Attorney General James Awards $505,000 to Support Pollinator Conservation in Historically Underserved Communities

 

Final Round of Grants from Bayer CropScience and Monsanto Settlement Will Fund 28 Community Projects Across New York, Completing the $3.45 Million New York Pollinator Conservation Fund

New York Attorney General Letitia James and The New York Community Trust (The Trust) today announced $505,000 in grant funding for 28 community organizations to support pollinator conservation projects in historically underserved communities across New York. The grants are the second and final round of awards from the New York Pollinator Conservation Fund, a $3.45 million initiative created by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) using proceeds from a 2023 settlement with Bayer CropScience and Monsanto over misleading claims about the safety of certain Roundup consumer weedkillers, which can be toxic to pollinator species. Of the total award, $419,000 was funded by OAG’s settlement and $86,000 was contributed by the Trust, a community foundation that supports charitable work across New York and the fund’s administrator. This final round targets communities identified as disadvantaged under New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, ensuring that the fund's benefits reach communities historically underrepresented in government funding programs.

“Every New Yorker deserves to live in a community with clean air and green space, no matter their zip code,” said Attorney General James. “These grants will bring pollinator gardens, workforce development, environmental education, and other benefits directly to communities that have too often been left out of conservation efforts. I am proud to close out this fund by investing in the New Yorkers and neighborhoods that need it most.”

“Pollinator decline is a pressing concern in New York State and across the nation,” said Arturo Garcia-Costas, The Trust’s program director for the local, national & international environment. “It was a real privilege working with the Attorney General’s office to support and lift up this diverse set of practical, community-focused projects that will benefit pollinators from Lake Huron to Mastic Beach in a host of ways.”    

Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, birds, and bats are essential to New York’s agriculture and ecosystems, supporting the production of more than a third of the state’s crops. According to the Empire State Native Pollinator Survey, at least 40 percent of New York’s native pollinator species are at risk of disappearing from the state.

The 28 grantees will use one-year grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to fund habitat creation and restoration. The selected recipients reflect the breadth of New York’s community-based environmental work, from land trusts and community gardens to museums to tenant associations, food justice groups, and reentry organizations.

• In Brooklyn, the Walt Whitman Tenants Association will restore green space at a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) complex, and Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation will build a pollinator sanctuary at the East New York Youth Farm.
• In the Bronx, Bronx is Blooming and the Bronx River Alliance will create pollinator habitats along the Bronx River and provide employment opportunities for local youth.
• On Staten Island, H.E.A.L.T.H for Youths will expand pollinator habitat through native plantings, tree-bed improvements, and youth engagement.
• In Westchester, the Sing Sing Prison Museum will bring pollinator gardening and horticultural training into three correctional facilities to support rehabilitation and workforce development.
• On Long Island, Mastic Beach Conservancy will install native coastal plantings in partnership with the Town of Brookhaven, and the Sisters of Saint Joseph will replace invasive vegetation with native plants on a wastewater treatment site in Brentwood.
• In the Hudson Valley, Kingston Land Trust will create six new pollinator gardens within its Pollinator Sanctuary to serve as outdoor classrooms for community education, while Kites Nest, Inc. in Hudson will expand a youth-led urban pollinator habitat through ecological restoration and youth employment.
• In Syracuse, the Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance will connect pollinator conservation and food justice by expanding food-bearing pollinator habitat in the Onondaga Creek Watershed.
• In Rochester, the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence will create wild bee habitat and engage community members through native plantings and environmental education.
• In Buffalo, the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission will weave pollinator habitats into its Griot Stroll cultural programming, while Grassroots Gardens of Western New York will convert vacant lots into pollinator habitats citywide.

Across the state, the funded projects fall into several broad categories: habitat creation and restoration, including new pollinator gardens, meadows, and native plantings on vacant lots, parkland, brownfields, and public housing sites; procurement and installation of native plants and sustainable horticultural practices, including invasive species removal and pollution control; workforce development, with several grantees hiring and training local youth and reentry populations to lead conservation work; and public education, including community workshops and programming for schools. Many grantees will also use the funding to formalize long-term stewardship structures, such as volunteer corps and community “pollinator pathways,” to sustain the habitats long-term.

A full list of awardees is below.

Organization	Location	Grant Amount	Project Description
Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust	Buffalo	$20,000	Expand a pollinator garden on a remediated Buffalo brownfield site to increase habitat connectivity and volunteer stewardship.
Grassroots Gardens of Western New York	Buffalo	$20,000	Transform vacant lots into pollinator habitat through native plantings, community partnerships, and public education.
Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission	Buffalo	$20,000	Integrate pollinator education and native plantings into the Griot Stroll programming through culturally grounded environmental education.
M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence	Rochester	$20,000	Create a wild bee habitat and engage community members through native plantings and environmental education.
Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation	Schenectady	$20,000	Revitalize the garden surrounding the Harriet Tubman statue with native pollinator-friendly plantings.
Roberson Museum and Science Center	Binghamton	$20,000	Establish native pollinator habitat on its Binghamton campus with educational opportunities for visitors.
Syracuse-Onondaga Food Systems Alliance	Syracuse	$20,000	Connect pollinator conservation and food justice by expanding food-bearing pollinator habitat in the Onondaga Creek Watershed.
Eden Share, Inc.	Poughquag	$9,000	Expand pollinator borders at Poughkeepsie community gardens and increase public education on pollinator-friendly gardening.
Kingston Land Trust	Kingston	$20,000	Create six new pollinator gardens within its Pollinator Sanctuary as outdoor classrooms for community education.
Kites Nest, Inc.	Hudson	$20,000	Expand and steward a youth-led urban pollinator habitat through ecological restoration and youth employment.
Nyack Pollinator Pathway	Nyack	$15,000	Transform an underutilized downtown green space into a native pollinator garden.
Safe Harbors of the Hudson	Newburgh	$17,000	Expand a pollinator garden at Safe Harbors Green and establish a diverse corps of stewards.
Sing Sing Prison Museum	Ossining	$19,000	Expand pollinator-friendly gardening and environmental education across three Westchester County correctional facilities.
Long Island Progressive Coalition Education Project	Brookhaven	$20,000	Partner with local groups to create new pollinator gardens and maintain existing habitat in disadvantaged communities.
Mastic Beach Conservancy	Mastic Beach	$20,000	Partner with the Town of Brookhaven to install native coastal plantings at Bayview Park.
Rewild Long Island Incorporated	Port Washington	$20,000	Expand the Valley Stream ReWild Community Garden with community science-oriented programming.
Sisters of Saint Joseph	Brentwood	$20,000	Replace invasive vegetation with native pollinator plants on a 2-acre leaching field.
34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition	Jackson Heights	$10,000	Create a network of pollinator habitats across public spaces in Queens while engaging residents and youth.
Bronx is Blooming	Bronx	$20,000	Create pollinator habitat in parks along the Bronx River through youth workforce development and community science.
Bronx River Alliance, Inc.	Bronx	$20,000	Create and maintain a native pollinator garden along the Bronx River Greenway.
Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation	Brooklyn	$20,000	Create a pollinator sanctuary at the East New York Youth Farm using native plantings and community education.
Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Inc.	Brooklyn	$20,000	Expand pollinator habitat across community gardens, rain gardens, and street tree beds.
H.E.A.L.T.H for Youths	Staten Island	$20,000	Expand pollinator habitat on Staten Island through native plantings and youth engagement.
Horticultural Society of New York	New York	$20,000	Install native bee habitat boxes in disadvantaged communities and provide pollinator education.
Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement	Long Island City	$5,000	Expand the Queensbridge Pollinator Project through resident stewardship and intergenerational education.
Pineapple Ride Inc.	Brooklyn	$10,000	Expand a Bensonhurst Park pollinator corridor through native plantings and community engagement.
Riverside Park Conservancy, Inc.	New York	$20,000	Enhance and expand the 119th Street Pollinator Meadow.
Walt Whitman Tenants Association, Inc.	Brooklyn	$20,000	Restore public housing green space with native pollinator plantings and resident stewardship.

With this final round, the New York Pollinator Conservation Fund is now fully allocated. In the first round, announced in June 2025, Attorney General James awarded $3.3 million to 34 organizations statewide (an additional $600,000 was provided by The Trust).  Grantees included community land trusts, urban environmental coalitions, Indigenous communities, and grassroots education groups. The projects and initiatives funded ranged from restoring butterfly populations in urban grasslands to transforming parks, campuses, and underused lands into thriving pollinator hubs. Several projects emphasized hands-on learning and public education, and many involved partnerships with local farmers, municipal agencies, and conservation experts to reduce pesticide use, improve land management practices, and produce pollinator-friendly landscapes.  

GANGBUSTERS: DHS Deports Illegal Alien Gang Members, Including Killers, Sexual Assailants, Drunk Drivers, and Drug Traffickers

 

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported more criminal illegal alien gang members last week, including those convicted of manslaughter, sexual assault, driving under the influence, and drug trafficking.

“In the last week, ICE has deported criminal illegal alien gang members, including killers, sexual assailants, drunk drivers, and drug traffickers,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “America is now a safer place with these criminals out of our country. DHS is delivering on President Trump’s mandate from the American people to deport illegal aliens and make America safe again. Deporting illegal aliens saves lives.”

Among the gang members recently deported are:

Jonas Perez-Rodriguez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico and Surenos gang member, deported on August 4. His criminal history includes convictions for manslaughter, DUI causing bodily injury, and aggravated assault by a prisoner.

Jhony Mejia, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras and Surenos gang member, deported on August 9. His criminal history includes convictions for attempted willful murder, prisoner in possession of a sharp instrument, and obstructing a public officer.

Jose Enrique Galindo-Arteaga, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico and Paisas gang member, deported on August 3. His criminal history includes a conviction for sexual assault.

Carlos Narciso Villarreal, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico and Bloods gang member, deported on August 3. His criminal history includes convictions for attempted breaking or entering and possession of stolen goods, and arrests for assault on a female, domestic violence, breaking or entering, and injury to personal property.

Miguel Andres Veras Martes, a criminal illegal alien from the Dominican Republic and Trinitarios gang member, deported on August 4. His criminal history includes convictions for manufacture/deliver/possess with intent to manufacture/deliver schedule I/II controlled substance, carrying dangerous weapons/substances while committing a crime of violence, reckless driving, and receiving stolen goods.

Drug Distributer Convicted for Selling Fentanyl that Caused Three Fatal Overdoses

 

A Memphis man, Darian Glover, 29, has been convicted by a federal jury for distribution of a controlled substance causing death. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.

An eyewitness told law enforcement that on June 20, 2024, he saw the male victim, M.P., purchase narcotics from Darian Glover. The eyewitness stated M.P. began making phone calls to Glover in order to buy what M.P. believed was cocaine. The eyewitness stated they got off work around 5:30 PM, and they met Glover at a gas station located on Bartlett Road in Bartlett, TN. 

Glover walked up to M.P.'s truck and got into the backseat. M.P. and Glover shook hands, which is when the drug transaction occurred. M.P. then drove Glover to a liquor store located on Summer Avenue in Memphis, TN. Glover went into the store and came back to the truck. M.P. then drove Glover to Glover's residence in Memphis, TN. 

On June 21, 2024 at 1:51 AM, the Collierville Police Department was dispatched to a residence located in Collierville, TN in reference to a report of a drug overdose. Upon arrival, officers observed the residents of the house performing CPR on two unconscious females on the back porch of the house. Officers also observed an unconscious male lying on the back porch as well. Officers and paramedics then took over CPR on all the unconscious individuals on the scene. Officers and paramedics administered multiple doses of Narcan to all three individuals. Subsequently, all three victims, M.P., L.P., and A.T., did not survive.

On the scene, officers observed a white powdery substance on a dollar bill on the table where the three individuals were seated. The white powdery substance was collected from the scene and sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for testing and analysis. The results confirmed that the unknown white powdery substance tested positive for fentanyl. In addition to the fentanyl, the victims' cell phones were recovered from the scene of the overdose. 

Upon analyses of M.P.'s cellphone, law enforcement saw text message communication between M.P. and Glover's cell phone number. The communication displayed text messages about M.P. attempting to purchase "toot", which is the street term for cocaine. The conversation started on June 20, 2024 at 2:23 PM and continued until M.P.'s last text message to Glover on June 20, 2024 at 7:24 PM. The victim and Glover's cell phone location data corroborated the eyewitness' version of events. The eyewitness positively identified Glover in a photo lineup as the person who sold M.P. the narcotics.

Per the medical examiner, the immediate cause of M.P.'s and A.T.'s death was fentanyl toxicity, and the manner of death was an accident. The immediate cause of L.P.'s death was fentanyl and alprazolam toxicity, and the manner of death was an accident.

After a four-day jury trial, the jury rendered a verdict of guilty as to three counts of distribution of a controlled substance which resulted in death. Glover faces a sentence of not less than 20 years or more than life in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least three years. 

The case is set for sentencing on November 13, 2026 before United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Fentanyl distribution cases resulting in death are always heartbreaking, and especially when there are multiple victims. We commend the outstanding investigative work of our federal and local law enforcement partners, and we hope this conviction will achieve some measure of justice for the victims’ families.”

“Drug dealers like Mr. Glover have no regard for human life; often driven by greed, they poison our communities and leave broken families in their wake,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division.  “Mr. Glover should expect to feel the full weight of our justice system for his actions that ultimately claimed the lives of three individuals.”

“This conviction highlights the vital role of teamwork among our federal, state, and local partners. Together, we are committed to holding those who bring deadly drugs into our community accountable and protecting our residents from these tragic outcomes,” said Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Collierville Police Department (CPD). 

Two Georgia Men and a Chinese National Indicted for Forced Labor and Related Offenses

 

A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia returned an indictment today charging Zhu Chen, 60, and Jiayi Chen, 31, both U.S. Citizens, and Jianjun Lu, 55, a Chinese national, all residing in Cartersville, Georgia, with forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and alien harboring. 

According to court documents, Zhu Chen, together with Jiayi Chen and Jianjun Lu, recruited Chinese nationals through false pretenses to enter the United States on B-1 and L-1 visas to work at Wellmade Industries, a flooring manufacturer in Georgia. Upon the victims’ arrivals into the United States, the defendants kept their immigration documents and had them work 12-hour shifts, six days a week at the Wellmade Industries factory in Cartersville, Georgia. The defendants paid the victims less than promised and did not provide overtime or health benefits. They also threatened the victims with deportation and the imposition of sizeable debts and subjected them to verbal, psychological, and physical abuse. The defendants housed the victims in residences owned by Wellmade even though the victims did not have legal status under their visas. 

All three defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor and forced labor. Zhu Chen is also charged with alien harboring. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia, and Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta made the announcement.

HSI Dalton, Georgia; Bartow County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations; and Georgia Bureau of Investigations are investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Elizabeth Hutson of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leanne Marek for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BRONX TEEN INDICTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TWO NEW YORK CITY POLICE OFFICERS

 

Defendant Allegedly Drove Stolen SUV at the Officers, Striking One 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx teenager has been indicted on Attempted Murder and Assault for allegedly using a stolen SUV to target two New York City Police Officers. 

District Attorney Clark said, “This defendant, allegedly in an apparent attempt to evade a police traffic stop while driving an SUV that was reported stolen, ignored repeated demands to exit the vehicle and instead accelerated directly into the path of two officers. Thankfully the officers were not seriously hurt. We will hold accountable those who would seek to harm our police officers.” 

District Attorney Clark said that defendant Jayden Mendoza, 18, of Lacombe Avenue, the Bronx, was arraigned on two counts of Attempted Murder in the first-degree, two counts of Attempted Assault in the first-degree, two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, two counts of second-degree Assault and third-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Sam David. He was remanded. He is due back in court September 25, 2026.

According to the investigation, at approximately 5:30 p.m. on June 21, 2026, a Kia Sportage reported stolen two days earlier was picked up by a license plate reader as it crossed University Heights Bridge, from Manhattan into the Bronx. Shortly thereafter,six unmarked NYPD vehicles surrounded the stolen Kia when it stopped at the intersection of East Fordham Road and Webster Avenue. NYPD Sergeant Yousef Abdallah and Officer Nicholas Gluth exited their vehicle and approached the Kia and instructed the defendant, who was behind the wheel, to get out of the car. Mendoza ignored those commands and allegedly accelerated the car directly into the path of Sgt. Abdallah and Officer Gluth. Sgt. Abdallah was struck by the Kia. Officer Gluth avoided being hit, jumped onto the hood of a parked car and fired three shots into the windshield of the Kia, striking Mendoza three times. Sgt Abdallah was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital to receive treatment for a laceration to the back of his head. Mendoza was rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery for gunshot wounds to his abdomen, right arm and right leg. A search warrant later executed on the Kia uncovered a loaded semi-automatic firearm in a bag in the back seat. 

District Attorney Clark also thanked NYPD’s Force Investigation Division for their work in the investigation.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani and Attorney General James Stand Up to ICE Overreach and Reaffirm Protections for New Yorkers

Governor Hochul Announces $7.25 Million To Provide Legal Services for 1,400 Unaccompanied Minor Children After Trump Administration Guts Crucial Contract

New State Funding Will Ensure All Children In Active Removal Proceedings Have Access to Representation

Governor Highlights Commonsense Measures To Protect New Yorkers Against Aggressive Federal Immigration Enforcement

Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Attorney General Letitia James stood together today against the Trump Administration’s aggressive federal immigration enforcement and reminded New Yorkers of their rights and protections. In addition, Governor Hochul announced $7.25 million in new funding to provide legal services for approximately 1,400 unaccompanied immigrant children and youth in New York who are facing active removal proceedings, including the more than 250 children who are currently detained. The funding will help vulnerable children access legal representation following the Trump administration’s July 31 contract expiration.

“No child in our state should ever face the fear and uncertainty of the immigration process without advocates and legal support in their corner,” Governor Hochul said. “While the Trump Administration is walking away from these children, New York is stepping up to help bridge the gap and ensure their continued access to the services they need and deserve. When we lose sight of our shared responsibility to protect children, we lose sight of who we are as a country, and as Governor, I will not let that happen.”

For nearly two decades, the federal government has been required by law to protect immigrant children and both Democrat and Republican administrations have complied with that law. Legal representation is necessary as unaccompanied minors are more likely to be trafficked, abused and endangered. The Trump Administration's lack of clarity surrounding replacement contracts creates instability for thousands of children in New York and across the country and ultimately will harm vulnerable children who rely on these services.

In response, the New York State Office for New Americans (ONA) is executing contracts totaling $7.25 million with a coalition of legal services providers, led by the Hispanic Federation, to support children previously served under the federal program. This builds on the work Governor Hochul has already done to protect immigrant communities including nearly $87 million for the Office for New Americans, a 27% increase compared with last year. ONA, through their network of community providers, operates a hotline, provides rapid legal assistance, conducts know-your-rights trainings and supports other key services for adults and children.

Following an unprecedented escalation in aggressive federal immigration enforcement, Governor Hochul has been fighting to protect New Yorkers from federal actions aimed at hurting our vulnerable immigrant communities. Earlier this year, Governor Hochul signed one of the most comprehensive laws in the nation to rein in ICE and prevent federal overreach by:

• Prohibiting local governments, state and local police, and state and local corrections from entering into 287(g) Agreements or similar agreements with the federal government that allow for state and local law enforcement personnel and facilities to be used for civil immigration enforcement purposes;
• Prohibiting state, local, and federal officers from wearing face covering while interacting with the public;
• Establishing a state law under which New Yorkers can bring a lawsuit against federal, state and local government officials for a violation of their constitutional rights;
• Safeguarding interactions with public employees;
• Keeping immigration authorities out of sensitive locations; and
• Ensuring immigrant students can access education, codifying the right to a free public education regardless of immigration status.

Attorney General Letitia James said, “New York will never stand by while vulnerable children are left to navigate our immigration system alone. We will continue fighting to protect immigrant New Yorkers and push back against federal overreach that puts families and communities at risk. Every New Yorker deserves a fair day in court and access to justice, and I thank Governor Hochul for taking the initiative to fund these critical legal services.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani said, “New York refuses to stand idly by while the federal government abandons immigrant children and leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and deportation. I’m proud to stand alongside state and city leaders as we reject the cruelty on display and recommit to protecting the immigrant communities that help form this city’s backbone. New York City has invested a record 153 million dollars in legal representation for immigrants, expanded Know Your Rights outreach in dozens of languages, and strengthened the firewall between city agencies and federal immigration enforcement. We will not stop until the values our city was built upon are truly felt across the five boroughs.”

Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association Sept 8th Guest

 

The Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association is excited to announce that Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. will be our featured speaker when our monthly meetings restart on Tuesday Sept 8th at Bronx House 990 Pelham Parkway South. Starting at 7 pm sharp.

Do you have any issues ,concerns or problems in District 80 to speak of? Then make the Assemblymember aware of them and Show Up.